Pick-up iron



Oct. 16, 1928. 1,687,520

E. J. SHAFFER PICK-UP IRON Filed Jan. 14, 1927 Patented 0st. 16, 1928.

UNITE STATES ERNEST J. SHAFFER, TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

PICK-U1? IRON.

Application filed January 14, 1927.

Sometimes in the working of several relatively shallow oil wells that are grouped within a radius of a halt to three quarters of a mile, a power plant that is located at a central position with respect to said wells is used for pumping the several wells. This power plant involves a suitably driven vertical shaft which carries a number of eccentrics that are equippedwith the usual eccentric straps, andarms which are attached to these straps project out through guides and are fitted at their outer ends with clevises to which may beattached cables that lead to the respective wells. In the set up of the apparatus, a clevis or the like is attached to the end of each cable, and then, by means of what is known as a pick-up iron, the clevis on the end of the cable is attached to the clevis on the end of the corresponding eccentric arm. The distance between the clevises on the cables and arms, when all connections are taut, is an approximately fixed distance, but through stretching of the cables or from other causes this distance may vary slightly.

The present invention relates to an improved pick-up iron for connecting the ends of the eccentric arms and cables in outfits of the above character, and its primary purpose is to provide a device of this nature that has hooks on one side that are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the approximate normal distance between the clevises of the eccentric arms and cables, and on the opposite side hooks that arespaced apart a lesser distance so that by reversing the iron the stretching oi the cables or other such irregularity may be compensated for.

Further objects are to provide a device of the aforesaid character which is very substantial and which is designed to afford convenience othandling and protection to the users fingers and hand when applying the device to the working lines.

The toregoing objects are attained in a pick-up iron of the form illustratedin the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the iron, and Fig. 2 a central transverse section through the same on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

The device consists of a body portion 1, having hooks 2 projecting from its opposite ends in one direction from the longitudinal axis of the bodyyand hooks 3 projecting in the other directions from its opposite ends.

Serial No. 161,222;

' ot the central portion of the body 1, giving to said body a form that is substantially II-shaped in cross section, thereby providing flanges 6 that are rounded so asito constitute comfortable hand grips, the device *being adapted to beheld by the grip or flange on one side while applying the hooks that project from the opposite side or the body to the clevises or the working line. The flange 6 opposite the one by which the device is being held, and the hooks onthe same side with the grip that is being used to hold the device, serve to protect the users handt'rom injury as he engages the hook, first with the clevis on the end of the cable, and then with the clevis on the end of the eccentric arm as the latter reaches the outward limit of its movement. Having to perform this operation while the power plant is working is more or less dangerous unless the users' hand is protected as above explained. Therefore it will be seen that, in addition to compensating for the stretchingof the working line, etc., the double hook has the second purpose of shielding the hand, and accordingly the invention is not limited, in its broadest phase, to the different spacing of the opposed hooks.

The webv 7 between the flanges 6 imparts ample strength to the body portion to withstand the strains to which it is subjected,

and enables the user to control the movements of the relatively heavy iron more accurately, by providing a purchase for the endsot the thumb and fingers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A pick-up iron comprisinga body portion from each end of which hooks extend in opposite directions, the hooks occurring on one side of the longitudinal axis of the body portion being spaced further apart than those occurringon the other side of said axis.

3. A pick-up iron comprising a body portion from each endof which hooks extend in opposite directions all of said hooks and 5 the body portion being in a substantially common plane, and the body portion having depressions in its opposite faces.

signature.

tion from each end of Which hooks extend in opposite directions, the body portion being substantially I-shaped in cross section.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my ERNEST J. SHAFFER.

4. A pick-up iron comprising a body por -v 

